Process of making vehicle-wheels.



APPLICATION FILED APR. 14, I91

Patented Feb. 26,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

avvuewtoz b EMF) (5. (0/776 Que w @1 0 H. B. COATS.

PROCESS OF MAKING VEHICLE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 14. 1912.

1 257,3 1 8. Patented Feb. 26, 1918,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2i H. B. COATS.

PROCESS OF MAKING VEHICLE WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-'14, I917.

Patented Feb. 26, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

abhor/14 aw nearer n. scars, on caewronnsvznnn,

PRQGESS E MAKING VEHICLE-'WHEELS.

Application filed 14., 191?.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY B. COATS, a citizen oft-lie United States, anda resident of Crawfordsville, county of Montgomery, and State oflndiana, have invented a certain new and useful Process of MakingVehicle-Wheels; and i do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which like letters refer to like parts.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction andoperation of vehicle wheels, particularly those adapted for automobilesand especially for motor trucks, wherein there is a series of annularpneumatic cushions mounted between the tire and hub portion of the wheelfor yieldingly supporting said two wheel members in relation to eachother. And more particularly the object or this invention is to make, ina practical manner and form, a wheel structure for the mounting of aseries of such cushions, as is herein shown.

This invention relates to the process of making such vehicle wheels andthe chief feature of such invention or process is the nesting of theparts, as herein set forth, composing the steel structure for themounting or the series of cushions to form the completed wheel. Afurther feature of said invention or process is the nesting of the partsof said structure, particularly the tire rim, a centrally located memberand an 1ntermediate series of rims ior'said cushions v 7 said cushionrims being held by and bctween the tire rim and said central memherunder compression. This assembling of said parts so they will be undercompression and tension stresses makes said structure a unitary one andyieldinginstead of rigid and tends to hold said parts in place.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from theaccompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa side eleva tion of the wheel to be made.Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectionthrough a part of the wheel on the line 33 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a planview of the parts; of the cushion holding structure in the first step ofassembling them. Fig. 5. is a section on the line 5 -5 of Fig. {i Fig. 6is a section on the line 66 of ig. Fig. l is the same as Fig. 5 afterSpecification of Letters Patent.

Serial l lo. 162,521?

the intermediate parts have been forced down into place in the tire rimand before the latter is compressed. Fig. 8 is the same as Fig. 7 afterthe tire rim is compressed.

The vehicle wheel, which is made by this new process and which is shownin Figs. 1 and 2, will first be described. There is annular tire rim 1%and centrally loca hub 11, said hub and the parts secured. theretofloating within the wheel rim that said rim or hub may yield radiallywith reference to the other under the influence of the load. The rim o"tel. band 10 is of standard type and has .;s 1. iphery transversely fiatand the S 1dr.- 5 type of tire .nner common- 12 is secured thereon in a1'. in the art.

Between the hub and rim there is a series of annular pneumatic cushions15 mounted on and surrounding a cylindrical supporting member formed ofthe parts 16 and 17 which are held together by a bolt 18 through theradial arms'19 which extend from and secured to the hub. Said supportingmember has peripheral and outwardlyturned flanges 20 which together withthe periphery of said member constitute an innor rim or holding meansfor the cushions. There is an outer rim 21 which engages the tire rim 10between the substantially triangular-shaped reinforcing members 122.

There is a centrally located annular inner member 22 surrounding the huband spaced therefrom and with its periphery engaging the inner portionsof the entireset of external cushion rims 21. lhe outer periphery of theinner or central member 22 is transversely cupped so as topartiallyembrace transversely the inner portions of all of the external outercushion rims 21, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Ilhe reinforcing members 122likewise are cupped on their surfaces adjacent the outer rims 21 of thecushions so to embrace the same, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

In the process of making said vehicle wheels, the tire rims 10, outerclencher rims 21 of the cushions, centrally located member 22 and thereinforcing members 122 are separately made conveniently of stamped orrolled steel.

In assembling said last-mentioned parts,-

ing the adjacent portions of the cushion rims. The central member 2 isso large in diameter that i cannot be placed in position Within saidseries of cushion rims Without elevating; their inner @ortions someWhatas stated above, and, therefore, when the central member 22 is assembledby hand the structure Will be pyramiduh as shown in Figs 5 and 6.

The next step in the process is to central portion of said assembled pats down from the goyramidal form as shown in 5 and 6, tea substantiallyhorizonta. tion, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. usually done by p 'ngenforce I annular ring-iii; V. 1* 10 cone: y of thestrueture one. rorcingit down in any suitable manner so that all of the cushion rims and thecen tral members 21 Will be forced down equally and simultaneously, tothe horizontal position. When in this horizontal goosition, as

shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the reinforcing i'nembers 122 will engage thethe rim 10 and will also engage the cushion rims, but the cushion rimswill not engage the tire rim, for there. must be a sufficient clearancebetween the tire rim 10 and the cushion rims to allow for th parts to beassembled in a pyramidal form and forced down into horizontal position,as above explained.

T he next step in the process the shrink ing or compressing of the rim10 so as to reduce its diameter, say threoeighths of an inch or the likeWhatever the necessary clearance must be, as aboe explain thatcompression or contraction of rim puts all of said members under greattension. The'tire rim then will forcibly cm gage the outer portions oiloil of the cusl rims 21 and said cushion rims will we under considerablecompression by and between the outer tire im 10 and the centrallylocated member 22, and the reinforcing 1ncmbeis 122- cooperate with thetire rim the compression of the cushion rims. This con1- pression ortension of all of said members cures them tightly together in oneunitary structure and also renders such structure yielding to someextent instead of Furthermore, such compression of said nembers togetherwith the cup} ":d s e form of their en a -ing surfaces hole. parts 7 .1and against any The shrinking or compression of the tire accomplished byany suitable apneuhich is already common in the necessary that said tirerim and said cent ol member 22' during the compres sion be maintainedabsolutely concentric in to preserve tile symmetry and balance 'i-Wheel.

next step is to secure said parts of the metal portion. of the Wheeltogether in any tr'ile manner such as spot Welding or egg; It, isparticularly important at to have the reinforcing members 122effectively to the tire rim 10. ally the cushions and other parts of heiare assembled and thus the Wheel for use.

= ention claimed is:

recess of melting a vehicle Wheel separate formation of e annular"cushion rims, i, the nesting of said rcular series Within the memberWithin the ims end the treatment of c1 nenner as to cause the ress thenested rims to 2 The process of making a. vehicle Wheel which processincludes first the separate for mation of a tire rini a member adaptedto be centrally located therein, and series of annular cushion rimsadapted to be located between and intertitted With the tire rim andcentral member, then nesting said parts in pyramidal form, and finallyforcing said parts Within the tire rim into the plane of the tire rim.

The process ot making a icle Wheel, "which process includes first thecrate formation of a tire rim a member adapted to be centrally locatedtherein. and a. series of annular cushion rims adapted to be locatedbetween. and interfitted with the tire rim and central member and witheach other in suclcn, then nesting said parts in pyramidal .nd finallyforcing said parts Within E rim into the plane of the tire rim.

cessot making a vehicle Wheel includes first the separate tire rim anumber .apted 3 located therein and a series of annu cushion rims il(li)l1(3d to be lo outed bet n and interfitted with the tire rim andcentral member said parts having means with c1 ged surfaces forpartially embracing the p rts which they are adapted to engage, thenting said parts in pyramit term, nd ally forcing said ports 11 the tireinto the plane of the tire rim.

member adapted cei'itrelly locum .r.

"rein and a series of annular cushion rims adapted to be located betweenand mterfitted with the tire rim and central member, then nest ng saidparts in pyramidal form, then forcing said parts within the tire riminto the plane of the tire rim, and finally circumferentiallycompressing the tire rim to bind the series of cushion rims between thetire rim and the centrally located member.

6. The process of making a vehicle wheel, which includes the separateformation of a tire rim, a series of annular cushion rims, and a centralmember, the nesting of said cushion rims in a circular series within thetire rim and the central member within the circular series of cushionrims, and the circumferential compression, beyond the upset point, ofthe tire rim about the nested members to hold them in place undercompression.

7. The process of making a vehicle wheel, which process includes firstthe separate formation of a tire rim, a member adapted to be centrallylocated therein, and a series of annular cushion rims adapted to belocated between and interfitted with the tire rim and central member,then nesting said parts in pyramidal form, then forcing said partswithin the tire rim into the plane of the tire rim and finallycompressing the tire rim so as to put the tire rim under tension and theinclosed parts under compression,

8. The process of making a vehicle wheel, which process includes firstthe separate formation of a tire rim, a member adapted to be centrallylocated therein, and a series of annular cushion rims adapted to belocated between and interfitted with the tire rim and central member,said parts having means with cupped surfaces for partially embracing theparts which they are adapted to engage, then nesting sair -warts inpyramidal form, then forcing parts within the tire rim into the plan cie tire rim, and finally compressing the se' of cushion rims between thetire rim and the centrally located member.

9. The process of making a vehicle wheel, which process includes makinga tire rim, a member adapted to be centrally located therein, a seriesof annular cushion rims adapted to be located between and interfittedwith the tire rim and central member, and

, finally con'ipressing the tire rim so reinforcing means the tire andcushion rims, then nesting said, parts in pyramidal form, and finallyforcing said parts within the tire? rim into the plane of the tire rim.

10. The of making a vehicle wheel, which prcc member mapted' to becentrally located therein, a series of annular cushion rims adapted tobe lbcated between interfitted with the tire rim and central member, andreinforcing means adapted to be securedto the tire rim and locatedbetween adjacent cushion rims, then nesting" said parts in pyramidalform, then forcing said parts within the tire rim into the plane of thetire rim, and finally compressing the series; of cushion rims betweenthe tire rim andthe centrally located member,

11. The process of making a vehicle wheel, which process ii'icludesmaking a tire rim, a member adapted to .be centrally located therein, aseries of annular cushion rims adapted to be located between andinterfitted with the tire rim and central member, and reinforcing meansadapted to be secured to the tire rim located between adjacent cushionrims, said centrally located member, rims and reinforcing means havintheir adjacent surfaces cupped 'to internt with each other, then nestingsaid parts in pyramidal form, then forcing said parts within the tirerim into the plane of the tire rim, and fially compressing the series ofcushion rims between the tire rinrand the centrally located member. r

12. The process of making a vehicle wheel, which process includes makinga tire rim, a member adapted to be centrally located therein, a seriesof annular cushion rims adapted to be located between and interfittedwith the tire rim and central member and reinforcing means adapt to besecured to the tire rim located betwec. rims, then nesting said .pai inp form, then forcing said pairs wi tire rim into the plane of the tireall of the internal'parts under com,

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature;

HENRY B. GUAT ression.

includes making a tire rim, a

